4th Saturday Brown Bagger (J&S’s): Double blind. Rather reticent and tight to start, with aromas of generic red fruit and perhaps a subtle herbal undertone. Flavors of raspberry, black fruit, pepper and spice with hints of soy in the finish. Medium tannins, fleshing out and gaining weight as it sits. The fruit turns a touch riper through the finish as it breathes. (MM)
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Very deep, nearly opaque appearance with a cherry/ruby rim.
Deep nose – very ripe glossy cassis, blackberry and deeper damson and concentrated dark raspberry. Clean and pure like dark summer pudding. Smells youthful, very ripe not yielding to show any graphite etc. Lovely.
Palate is full and also notably ripe but you do get a graphite edge, more damson and cherry fruit and a chocolate note too. Ripe tannins though a touch of green in the mix, the whole is smooth, ample with long notes of cassis.
on return: Great nose: pow! concentrated and intense cassis and blue/blackberry – polished. Full, rich, and ripe and juicy – a creamy quality, good acidity, plentiful ripe tannins and just a little grip. Plenty of oomph here at 15% but it carries it well, showing some elegance. Long sweet and juicy finish.
Couple of days later: Dense nose, broad and soft and very pure – all ripe rounded cassis fruit. The palate is ample and round and pretty seamless. Nice acidity, gorgeous chocolatey/creamy fruit and gobs of blackberry and cassis fruit. This has real elegance.
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Was most open a few hours after opening. Became a bit muted on the nose. Tangy blueberries on the palate. Tannins are still quite chalky and stiff as expected. Thought this might be more open based on some other notes. Needs more time in the cellar. For drinking now it seems window is a short decant.
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I hesitated to open this bottle because I expected it to be too young. I first reached for the 2015, but then pulled the 2017 due to other’s CT tasting notes. I agree with many of the notes. While this can certainly age more, it is drinking great now. Built in an old world rustic Bordeaux style, but it has an unmistakable California signature to it due to the rich Napa fruit. This reminds me more of a Ulysses than a Dominus. If drinking now, decant for at least an hour.
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Great wine for around $60. Dark purple with gobs of fruit up front, midway and on the finish. Blackberry compote, plowed earth and hints of cedar. It overdelivers for the price. Give it a few hours to breath if you can, and it is great on day two as well.
Really, really buttery nose. Decanted 3 hours. Full and rich. Dark fruits. Black cherry. Likely the best Napanook I've had. Well done! Could stand at least 5 years in cellar.
We went to Steve's club for lunch. I saw this on the list and wanted to try it. Unfortunately we had to pnp and I honestly believe with a decant or a few more years in the bottle this will be a 93/94. Dark berries on the nose. The palate was berry, plum, tobacco and a touch of sweet spice. The finish was moderate to long. Really nice wine.
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1/27/2024 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
4th Saturday Brown Bagger (J&S’s): Double blind. Rather reticent and tight to start, with aromas of generic red fruit and perhaps a subtle herbal undertone. Flavors of raspberry, black fruit, pepper and spice with hints of soy in the finish. Medium tannins, fleshing out and gaining weight as it sits. The fruit turns a touch riper through the finish as it breathes. (MM)
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10/14/2023 - Francophile1 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very similar to my tasting note from 2022. Similar but better than Ulysses. A touch of detected alcohol on the finish. Excellent wine!
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6/29/2023 - Julian.antunez wrote: 94 Points
Full of flavor.
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6/17/2023 - kend707 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still drinking well, but I found a three hour decant is best.
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3/18/2023 - Tideview Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wonderful Bordeaux blend. Pairs well with food or enjoyable on its own.
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1/10/2023 - Shrewsram Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very deep, nearly opaque appearance with a cherry/ruby rim.
Deep nose – very ripe glossy cassis, blackberry and deeper damson and concentrated dark raspberry. Clean and pure like dark summer pudding. Smells youthful, very ripe not yielding to show any graphite etc. Lovely.
Palate is full and also notably ripe but you do get a graphite edge, more damson and cherry fruit and a chocolate note too. Ripe tannins though a touch of green in the mix, the whole is smooth, ample with long notes of cassis.
on return:
Great nose: pow! concentrated and intense cassis and blue/blackberry – polished. Full, rich, and ripe and juicy – a creamy quality, good acidity, plentiful ripe tannins and just a little grip. Plenty of oomph here at 15% but it carries it well, showing some elegance. Long sweet and juicy finish.
Couple of days later:
Dense nose, broad and soft and very pure – all ripe rounded cassis fruit. The palate is ample and round and pretty seamless. Nice acidity, gorgeous chocolatey/creamy fruit and gobs of blackberry and cassis fruit. This has real elegance.
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8/28/2022 - kend707 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Better than the 2018 IMO. Two hour decant. Cherry and plum with well-integrated tannins. Should do well for another 5 to 7 years.
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7/17/2022 - cavedivr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking well with decant. Plenty of stuffing to go longer, though.
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7/8/2022 - PghMike wrote: 90 Points
Was most open a few hours after opening. Became a bit muted on the nose. Tangy blueberries on the palate. Tannins are still quite chalky and stiff as expected. Thought this might be more open based on some other notes. Needs more time in the cellar. For drinking now it seems window is a short decant.
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5/12/2022 - Francophile1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
I hesitated to open this bottle because I expected it to be too young. I first reached for the 2015, but then pulled the 2017 due to other’s CT tasting notes. I agree with many of the notes. While this can certainly age more, it is drinking great now. Built in an old world rustic Bordeaux style, but it has an unmistakable California signature to it due to the rich Napa fruit. This reminds me more of a Ulysses than a Dominus. If drinking now, decant for at least an hour.
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4/29/2021 - Thirsty1 Likes this wine:
Consistent. If you can, let it hang out a few years, time will only benefit this bottle. But it's so good right now.
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3/31/2021 - Thirsty1 Likes this wine:
Great wine for around $60. Dark purple with gobs of fruit up front, midway and on the finish. Blackberry compote, plowed earth and hints of cedar. It overdelivers for the price. Give it a few hours to breath if you can, and it is great on day two as well.
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1/31/2021 - Chateau g2pa Likes this wine: 95 Points
Fruitfoward. Plums, dark fruit with underlying tobacco. Med body. Excellent wine.
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1/10/2021 - gymnastpro wrote: 93 Points
Drank it a few weeks ago so no specific notes. Definitely one of the best value wines in all of Napa valley. I love Napanook!
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10/30/2020 - cavedivr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really, really buttery nose. Decanted 3 hours. Full and rich. Dark fruits. Black cherry. Likely the best Napanook I've had. Well done! Could stand at least 5 years in cellar.
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9/3/2020 - markcic Likes this wine: 92 Points
We went to Steve's club for lunch. I saw this on the list and wanted to try it. Unfortunately we had to pnp and I honestly believe with a decant or a few more years in the bottle this will be a 93/94. Dark berries on the nose. The palate was berry, plum, tobacco and a touch of sweet spice. The finish was moderate to long. Really nice wine.
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